198 THE POLE-CHAINS. 



oval steel links, sometimes called the cable pattern (see A, 

 Fig- 77). These are the simplest, neatest, and of the most 

 practical form of construction. Twisted or double chains 

 (see B, Figure 77), with the links lying in folds, like those 

 of curb-chains, should never be used. The pole-chains of 

 road coaches should be black, if the pole head is corre- 

 spondingly treated. Pole-chains should never be used on a 

 vehicle driven by a servant. 



THE HOOKS are of three types, the single snap, the double 

 snap and the open hook. The single snap hook is the one 

 generally used for chains of non-sporting vehicles. Some 

 writers have claimed that the double snap hook should 

 never be employed, as it is conducive to the dangling of two 

 or three links, which results in " the clanking pole-chains." 

 This argument alone is hardly sufficient to justify the 

 debarring of double snap hooks. The fault is not in the 

 hook, but in the servant. The writer's opinion is that " they 

 should not be employed " ought to be applied to ignorant 

 coachmen rather than to the double snap hook. This hook 

 has several important advantages, not possessed by the single 

 snap, namely, in case of an emergency it can be released 

 from two points, and being detachable from the links it may 

 be more readily replaced in the event of its breaking ; and 

 for the same reason it is easier for the servant to clean. The 

 hooks for road-coach pole-chains are not jointed but made in 

 one piece and open. Over the point a heavy rubber band is 

 placed to retain the link in the hook. Hooks and links 

 should correspond in material and color with each other and 

 with the pole head. 



The rules of the New York Coaching Club regarding the 

 use of pole-chains on private coaches and road coaches are thus 



